Buying guide
The Best Wooden Xylophones for Kids
A properly tuned wooden xylophone sounds like a real instrument, not a tinny toy, and that is what keeps a child playing. It is the perfect first instrument: bang it and it rewards you with a genuine, pleasant note while building rhythm and coordination.
Part of our Music & Instruments guide.
H
At a glance
Our top picks
Pound & Tap Bench with Xylophone
Hape
A ball-pounding bench that doubles as a xylophone. The best first music toy.
$$$ Mid-range
Check on Amazon
Tuned Wooden Xylophone
Hape
A properly tuned xylophone that sounds genuinely musical.
$$$ Budget
Check on Amazon
Heirloom Glockenspiel
Plan Toys
A beautifully made tuned percussion instrument built to keep.
$$$ Mid-range
Check on Amazon
What to look for
- Look for a TUNED instrument (metal or quality wood bars) so it actually sounds musical.
- A pound-and-tap bench combo doubles the play for the youngest children.
- A spare mallet is worth having, they wander off.
Common questions
Are wooden xylophones tuned?
The good ones are. Cheap toy xylophones are often out of tune; pick a quality brand that lists it as tuned so it sounds like a real instrument.